Elephant Hawk-moth vs Pale Brown Hawk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Elephant Hawk-moth Pale Brown Hawk Moth
Scientific Name Deilephila elpenor Theretra nessus
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Sphingidae Sphingidae
Size 55-70 mm wingspan 55-75 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Orchards
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, temperate Asia South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Elephant Hawk-moth

A stunning pink and olive-green moth that hovers at flowers like a hummingbird at dusk. Its caterpillar has eyespots and a trunk-like shape, resembling a small elephant.

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Did You Know?

It has exceptional night vision and can see colour in near-total darkness.

Pale Brown Hawk Moth

A sleek hawk moth with uniform brown coloring and darker lateral stripes along the body. It is widespread across tropical Asia and Australasia.

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Did You Know?

Theretra nessus caterpillars undergo dramatic color changes between instars, shifting from green to brown as they mature.